Gov Al-Makura reads riot act against traders in Lafia
The Governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Al-Makura, has read riot act to traders that have been allocated shops at the Lafia Neighborhood Market to move into their shops or risk having their allocations revoked within a period of one week, starting from last Friday.
The Governor gave the order when he paid an unscheduled visit to the market. He told the traders union officials that, “the shops were fully allocated out to traders over three months ago, but many shops were still unoccupied. The government has therefore given the traders one week or Friday November 23th, 2018 to move into the markets or have the shops reallocated to other traders ready to do business there.”
The governor said the market was upgraded to assist the people and provide a source of livelihood to the traders, especially those that had historical ties with the over 70 year old market.
He reiterated that the revival of the historical market was important because it could only be compared with the old Jos Main Market.
He warned those that trade along Ochenga line and around the roundabout, saying they would be moved into the market from Friday.
Al-Makura added that the government would demolish makeshift shops outside the market and along the roads.
He noted that huge amount of money had been put in to upgrading the market to a modern standard at an affordable rate and for public convenience.
The market traders’ union officials pledged to comply with the directive and called on all those that have shops to move in or lose their allocation.
When visited the market on Tuesday, the Chairman of Lafia market traders, Alhaji Sabo Barau, said the governor had read the riot act against the traders who did not occupy their shops and stalls inside the remodeled Lafia Neighbourhood Market.
“But we have appealed to him to allow us to replace the iron mesh partition in between the shops with concrete blocks and he agreed. We are appealing to the traders that have not occupied their shops and those who are trading by the road side to relocate into the market to avoid the demolition that awaits them on Friday.
However, many traders were seen doing brisk business by the road side and around the Ochenga Line roundabout opposite Nasarawa Fire Brigade.